Illuminated sign



P. H. SCHNORMEIER ILLUMINATED SIGN Filed Feb. 2l. 1927 Patented Nov. 15,1927.

UNITED STATES PAUL H. SCNORMEIER, OF HUBBARD, IOWA.

ILLUMINATED SIGN.

Application led February 21, 1927. Serial No. 169,823.

The principal object of my invention is to providean illuminated signwhich shall have the advantages oi signs now on the market but whereinonly a minimum nurnber of incandescent light bulbs are used.

A further object is to provide an illuminated sign having detachableandadjustable reflector brackets.

A further objectis to provide an illuminated sign having adjustablebrackets with removable rreflecting plates. i

A further object is to so arrange the reiectors in relation to the bullseyes of the sign that an even distribution of reflected light of uniformintensity is obtained.

A further object is to provide an illuminated sign employing bulls eyesthat are readily detachable from the `sign housing.

A still further objectof this invention is to provide an illuminatedsign of relected light which is completely inclosed against troublesomeinsects.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combinationof the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated areattained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claimsand illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Y

Fig. 1 is a side view of a portion ot one `face of the sign. i

Fig. 2 is an inside view of a portion of the sign with the side of thesign removed.

F ig.^ 3 is a cross sectional view of my complete sign ready for use andis taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1. s

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the adjustable relector frame with aportion cut away to more fully illustrate its construction.

Fig. 5 is a side sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 1 and showsthe means for securing the bulls eyes in the face of the sign.

Fig. 6 is a front view of a portion of the face of the sign showing theconstruction of the aperture into which the bulls eye is secured. y y

Fig. 7 is a top sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 6 and morefully illustrates a means for receiving and holding a bulls eye in oneof the apertures.

There are a ii'ew signs now on the market that use reflected light forillumination by passing it through openings. These signs are open andreceive harmful foreign matter as well as attracting and receivingvarious kinds of insects into the sign housing which soon render thesign inoperative. Their reflectors are n'onadjustable and are subject todistortion consequential to handling the sign in transportation,installation, or main4 tenance. Their refiectors farthest fromvthe lightsource are dimmer than the reflectors close to the incandescent lightbulb. Ihave overcome all these disadvantages by providing an inclosedsign with bulls eyesdesigned to receive re'liected light from adjustableand movable mirrors that are so designed and arranged as to deliver thesame amount of light power to each bulls eye.

The numeral 10 designates a sign housing `having the hinged sides orfaces 11 and 12.

The `wall 13 divides the housing into two separate compartments andthereby creates atwo-faced sign. On the outside of each face may bepainted lettersll or other characters as are desired. These charactersare studded with bulls eyes `15 arran ed in somewhat close associationin the out ine of the letters. manently secured in a case 16' having thelugs-17 The lugs 17 of each case are designed to enter the notches 18respectively of one of `the apertures 19. By rotating the` bulls eye aportion of a revolution the lugs engage the back of the depressedportion 20 adjacent each notch 18. This construction is fully`illustrated `in Figures 5, 6, `and 7. By this construction itwillreadilybe seen These bulls eyes are each perthat if' illumination isproduced back of the x bulls eyes the complete sign will be illuminated.Directly back of each bulls eye and secured to the wall 13 by suitablemeans is an ordinary split ball socket 21. The numeral 22 designates aball in each one of the split sockets and secured to which is areflector frame 23. This construction permits the reflector frame to bemoved and held at various angles relative to its respective bulls eye.The top portion of each of these frames is open as shown in Fig. 4 thusallowing a small mirror 24 to be inserted into the frame. Mounted to thebottom and inside of the housing 10 are incandescent light bulbs 25. Ifthe frames 23 are at the proper angle they will intercept the light raysvfrom the incandescent light bulbs and i reliectthem laterally to theirrespective bulls eyes. The light rays emanating from each of the bullseyes, gives the appearance at a distance of a: separate sourcecfillumina-f tion back of each bulls eye. I find that by this arrangementa single incandescent light bulb is sufficient for one letter `orcharacter. In order that the bulls 'eyes farthest from the incandescentlight bulb will `have the same brilliancy as those closer to theincandescent light bulb I have placed the reflectors closer to the bullseyes that are at a distance :troni `the incandescent bulb. Thisarrangement is illustrated in Fig. 3 and it will be noted that thedistance between the reflector and the bulls eye `is in ratioto thedistance of the reflector fromv the light bulb. This gives the completesign a uniform appearance andperfects its displaying `qualities. `Toaccomplish the placement of some othe reflectors closed to theirrespective bulls eyes than otherreflectors, I have used split ballsockets as shown in Fig. 3 that entend a greater distance from the Wall13.

In order that these split `ball sockets will successfully engage theirrespective balls,

the rivet 26 may be used to more securely bind the two split portionsofeach split ball socket together. Another advantage of hav ing thereflectors at various distances from the Wall i3 is that they do notconflict one with the other in intercepting the rays from the lightbulb. This makes it possible to have a very narrow housing.

`By having the frames 23 o en at their top,'b roken mirrors may be repaced therein very readily and easily.

`The bulls eyes may be of clear or colored glass and their removablefeature makes it possible to change the color of the bulls eyes to suitthe occasion.

Allsigns sooner yor later must be cleaned and painted and theadjustability of the reflecting frames makes this possible Withoutdanger of getting the sign out of order. It is Inerelynecessary to'swingthe side of the sign `open on its hinges and properly adjust the framesso thatthe light Will be directed properly to thev various bulls eyes.This adjustability` of the reflecting `frames also facilitates theadjustment of the complete jsign when it is installed.

'Ehe numeral 27 designatesopenings inthe Wall 13 so that the reflectorfraineson both sides of the Wallnmay be adjusted from one side. i

It will readily be seen that I have produced a sign which is economicalin manu facture and use and which willalipear, when in use, at adistance as a. sign wherein the letters are composed of a` plurality otincandescent light bulbs.

Some changes may be made in construction Aand arrangement of my deviceWithout dc parting iromthe real spirit and purpose ol my invention anditis my intention to cover by my claims any inodiied `:tonne ofstructifue'or usel oit mechanical equivalents which may be reasonablyincluded `Within `their scope. A i

I claim: M

l. In a device of the class described, `a sign housing having a hingedside,` said housing having openingsin euch of its two sides in theoutlines of the letter or charac ter strokes to be displayed, a webbingin said housingand between said two sides, a lamp on cach side oi saidwebbing, and adjustable reflectors scoured toeach side of saidwebbing-for receiving and diverting light rays 'from said lamps to saidopenings; said webbing having "openings for per1nitting the adjustingjofsaidreiiectors from one side ofthe said housing. e

2.111 adevice of the class describetha signhousing having two hingedsides, said sides each having openingsin the outlines of theletter orcharacter strokes to be displayed, a webbing in said housing and betweensaid sides, a plurality of ball sockets secured to each side of saidwebbing, acball in each of saidl sockets, a reflector secured to eachball, a lain) on each side of said welibing; said Webing having o eningsfor permitting the adjustment of a l of the reiiectors inthe housingfrom one side thereof.

lill

fill

3. ln a device of theclass described, a

housing having a hingedside, said housing having openings 1n each of itstwo sides 1n the outlines of the letter or character strokes to bedisplayed, a crystalfor cach of said adjustment of said reflectors fromone side` `of said housing.

PAUL H. SCHNORMEIER.

